Molding strip



May 10, 1938. E. K. PlLcHER MOLDING STRIP Filed July 11. 1936 1 I INVENTOR.

' rdn/afa fz/c er I ATroRN Patented May'io, 193:3`

" UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE Application July l1, 1936, Serial No. 90,245

l2 Claims. (Cl. 20-74) I'his invention relates to molding strips adapted to conceal a line of fastening devices, such as nails or the like, and to present a smooth nished appearance. A I

The improved molding is particularly adapted to covering the joints of motor vehicle bodies, but quite obviously it can be used wherever need for such a molding arises.

Achief object of the invention is to provide an all-metal molding which can be applied with a minimum of labor, which formsv a permanent weather-tight joint, and which has a pleasing ornamental appearance. 'I'hese and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

While preferredforms of the invention are disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a cross section through a body strip embodying the invention. r

Fig. 2 is a. cross section through a cover` strip adapted to cooperate with the body strip of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is across section showing the parts in installed position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the molding shown in Fig.'2. I I

Fig. 5 is a cross section showing a modied form of the invention.

The molding of the invention has for its prin` A cipal parts a body III and a cover strip I I. The

I2 and a bottom wall I3. 'I'he cover strip is of such a size `that its vertical side walls I l have a close frictional fit with the walls I2 of the body. The body and cover strip are preferably formed by extrusion from some relatively soft metal, such as an alloy oflaluminum. The extrusion processA produces strips formed of worked-metal, with a grain structure running lengthwise of the strip,

thus permitting ready bending of the strip in any direction to conform to the contour of the" structure to which the molding is being attached. The extrusion process also produces minute ridges running longitudinally of the strips as the fresult of unavoidable irregularities of the extrusion dies. These extrusion ridges are shown on an exaggerated scale in the drawing. After the body I has been mounted in place, in a manner that will be explained shortly, the cover stripis pressed into the channel of the body I0, and these minute extrusion ridges together with the relatively soft malleable character of the metal forming the body III and cover strip I I form a tight frictional fit that holds the strip firmly in place.

To secure a still tighter tlt of the cover strip within the channel. the preferred form of the invention provides deformable ns I on the side walls I2 of the channel or on the walls Il of the cover strip, or on both walls I2 and I4, the latter form being illustrated in Fig. l. These iins I5 being very small are easily deformable and they do not interfere with tapping the cover strip into place by light blows of a hammer. During this operation the ns I5 are partly deformed and partly sheared away, thus compensating for any irregularities in the engaging walls I2 and Il and forming a close weather-tight joint between said walls.

The bottom wall I8 of body I0 is formed with a central groove II. The moldings are usually fastened in place by nails and the groove I6 forms a central line for aligning the nails and sum- I ciently weakens the' bottom wall of the channel `wise around a curve.

Extendingl laterally from body Ill are wings I'l,

the upper surfaces of which are curved on an arc struck from below the body and which terminate in lower edges I8 without curving inwardly toward the body. 'I'he edges I8 are relatively sharp and project downwardly below the level of the bottomwall I 8 of body I0, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The undersides of wings I'I maybe given any suitable contour to lightenthe molding and save metal.

The `manner of attaching the strip is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 where it is used to cover an overlapping joint of two pieces of fabric 20 and 2| on a support member 22. 'I'he molding strip is aligned with its channel directly above the overlapping joint and it is then secured in place by driving nails or other suitable fastening elements 23 into groove I6. As the body is nailed down, the lower edges I8 are pressed firmly into the fabric and hold it tightly against the support 22, forming asecure weather-tight joint. Due to the fact that the edges I8 are at the outer extremities of the molding, the upper curved surface of wings I1 form obtuse angles with the fabric, avoiding any acute angle that would have to be filled inwith plastic cement.

During the operation of nailing the body down, the pressure of edges I8 against the support 22 serves not only to form a secure joint with the fabric, but a leverage action causes, the upper ends of wings I'I to move the upper corners of the walls I2 of the channel slightly towards each other.

After the body I has been nailed in place the cover strip II is placed in the channel and driven home, deforming the fins I as previously explained and wedging the upper corners of the walls I2 back to vertical position. When the parts have reached their final assembled positions the walls Il of the cover strip have made a perfect lapped-in seal against the walls I2 of the channel, and the supporting pressure of the wings I'I holds them resiliently in place against any possible loosening effects of expansion, vibration. etc.

The body III and cover strip II carry cooperating surfaces which hold the central part of the bottom wall 24 of the cover strip spaced above the bottom wall I3 of the channel in order to provide clearance for the heads of the nails. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 this object is achieved by giving bottom wall 24 of the cover strip an upwardly curved contour forming shoulders 25 at the side of wall 2l which engage with the bottom I3 of the channel. In the form illustrated in Fig. 4 shoulders 26 are formed on the side walls of the channel. 'I'hese parts are so designed as to predetermine the nal position ofthe cover strip, which in the form shown has its upper surface flush with the upper surface of body I0.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 the outer surface of the molding has a semi-circular contour, but it should be understood that this outer surface can be given any desired ornamental or utilitarian shape. For example, as shown in Fig. 4 the molding is mounted in a vertical position .on the side of a support 21 and the lower part of the molding carries a drip trough 28.

'I'hose skilled in the art will appreciate that this molding can be economically manufactured and installed, and that its all-metal construction furnishes a permanent coveringv that needs no subsequent servicing.

1. A molding comprising a body formed of extruded metal with a channel therein having vertical side walls with minute extrusion ridges extending longitudinally of the molding, a cover strip formed of extruded metal of a shape to fit closely between the side walls of thebody, the cover strip having vertical side walls with minute extrusion ridges extending longitudinally of the molding and adapted to engage the ridges of the channel walls to assist in holding the cover strip l in place in the channel.

2. A device as recited in claim 1 in which deformable longitudinal fins are carried by the vertical walls of the channel.

3. A device as recited in claim 1 in which deformable longitudinal fins are carried by the side walls of the cover strip.

4. A device as recited in claim 1 in which deformable longitudinal ilns are carried by the vertical walls of the channel and by the side walls of the cover strip.

5. A molding comprising a body of solid metal having a channel with vertical side walls formed therein, the bottom of the channel 4being formed with a central groove forming a weakened portion adapted to be pierced by nails, a metal cover strip fitting in the channel, and cooperating surfaces on the body and cover strip. for holding the cover strip out of contact with the nails.

Vwalls formed therein, a metal cover strip having vertical side walls frictionally engaging with the side walls of the channel, at Yleast one side of said body carrying a laterally extending wing the upper surface of which curves downwardly and outwardly from the body and which terminates in a relatively sharp edge lying below the bottom of said body.

l0. A device as recited in claim 9 in' which one of said wings extends from each side of said body respectively.

11. In combination, a support, two pieces of covering material forming an overlapping joint on said support, a molding comprising a metal body overlying said joint, said body being formed with a channel having vertical side walls, the bottom wall of said' channel beingformed with a groove. fastening devices extending into said groove and through the bottom wall of the channel into the support, a metal cover strip fitting `in said channel and being held in place solely by frictional engagement with the side walls Vof the channel, a wing"extending outwardly and downwardly from each side of said body respectively and terminating in a relativelysharp edge pressingthe fabric firmly against the support, the angle between the outer surface of the wing and the fabric being an obtuse angle,the'pres sure of the sharp edges of the wings against the support causing the base of the wings to -hold the sides of the channel firmly against the cover strip.

12. A molding comprising a body and a cover strip formed of aluminum alloy, the body being extruded with laterally extending wings, with a channel having vertical side walls, and a groove formed in its bottom wall, and with deformable longitudinal ns on the side walls of the channel, the cover strip being extruded with vertical side walls adapted to frictionally engage the side walls of the channel and carrying deformable longitudinal llns, cooperating `surfaces on the body and cover strip for holding the central part of the cover strip spaced from the bottom wall of the channel, each of said wings extending outwardly and downwardly from the upper Apart of the body and terminating in a relatively sharp corner located below the bottom of the body, the underside of each wing being concave.

EDWARD K. PILCHER. 

